Adoption Documentary

My name is Jae Woods, I was born in Jeollabuk-do, a province in the South-West of South Korea, where I was put up for adoption, lived with a foster mother for 6 months and then was picked up by an Australian father and an English mother and moved to Australia.

I have known I was adopted since I can remember, my parents always used to tell me bedtime stories about the process they went through to get me or a children’s book about adoption. Although I always had it, my parents gave me their blessing to explore my heritage when I was around 18, however it wasn’t something that interested me at all. I didn’t enjoy being adopted, it wasn’t something I wanted to speak about or share with people, at one point in my life I used to refer to my being adopted as my deepest darkest secret. I had created this negative connotation towards my adoption ever since I lived in Spain where I was bullied for being Asian and looking different in a language I hadn’t yet learnt.

It has taken me so long, but I am ready to share with the world about adoption and my experience of it through this documentary I want to produce. I hope to educate people on adoption and touch those who are in a similar situation; who are rejecting their heritage. I want to support and encourage them to reach out and explore where they came from as I think knowing your identity is extremely important. This can maybe help adoptees, the adopters, the birth parents or people close to this process. It is my plan to give a different perspective via this documentary.  

As this is a journey that I plan on taking by myself, I appreciate any support with this to save as much money as possible to be able to pay for the flights and other means of transport, the accommodation, the videographer(s)/photographer(s), a translator, and a director to help make this documentary all come together. There really isn't a deadline or timeline for this project.

I hate the unknown, even if this journey doesn’t go to plan, at least I will know something and that I have tried.

I don't have words for how much it means to me, but I really thank you so much for your support and/or your donation.

Only love, I am eternally grateful.